Tim Horn

Tim Horn is a man in his late forties. For many people, this is a time of life when careers have been established. Adults with disabilities face enormous challenges in landing a permanent job. This fact is made evident by an astonishing 75% unemployment rate. For many years, Tim Horn wanted to secure a job--meaningful work with the opportunity to move ahead. For Tim, it wasn’t a question if he could do the work…he simply needed the chance to prove that he could do the work as well as anyone.

CARC created the Chicago Pup Patrol in 2008 as a means to generate community-based work prospects for men and women with developmental disabilities. For Tim Horn, the Pup Patrol provided more than a job; it gave him the opportunity to prove that he was up for the challenge.

For over a year, Tim Horn has held the lead Dog Walking position with The Chicago Pup Patrol. Four times every week, rain or shine—in freezing cold or stifling heat, Tim has arrived for work. This job is the longest Tim has held any position of employment. Now he has an opportunity to turn this skill into a career and he is well on his way to creating a micro-enterprise where he manages all of his own customers. As the Chicago Pup Patrol grows, Tim will be responsible for helping other dog walkers learn the ropes.

Tim has realized his professional goal of securing community-based work. In doing so, he has helped the Chicago Pup Patrol gain more name recognition. Tim has experienced the benefits of work. The benefits go beyond a paycheck. Tim has proven to himself and many others that he is capable of answering any challenge set before him.

Most importantly, Tim has discovered something which had eluded him for many years—something inestimable in value, and for adults with disabilities, something extremely rare. Tim Horn has found a job—and he does that job exceedingly well.